Politicians 'stalling progress of PSNI reforms'

Progress towards completing police reforms in the North has been let down by lack of political backing, a watchdog report said today.

Oversight Commissioner Al Hutchinson also warned the street violence which erupted across Belfast earlier this month proved some were still opposed to the sweeping changes.

In his latest assessment on efforts to implement the Patten blueprint for a complete overhaul to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Mr Hutchinson revealed 114 of the 175 recommendations have been completed.

All of the main institutions involved in the process - the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Policing Board, which holds Chief Constable Hugh Orde to account, the District Policing Partnerships and Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan - are all doing their bit to make it work, he stressed.

But even though he did not identify Sinn Féin, which has refused to endorse the reformed force, the former Royal Canadian Mounted Police chief delivered a scathing general assessment on levels of political backing.

He said: “Let me be blunt: politics has failed policing in Northern Ireland.

“This is a general observation rather than a statement directed at any specific political group or individual, and simply points out a fact which has substantial consequences for the necessary reforms to policing.

“Coupled with a lack of acceptance, in some quarters, of the individual and societal responsibilities that accompany expected rights, the current democratic deficit creates the risk of either undermining or stagnating efforts to create a widely accepted, human rights-based, accountable policing service.

“A return to an embattled, fortressed police service is the goal of only a few.

“I know that the police do not want this, and I remain convinced that the majority of people in Northern Ireland do not want this either.”

The Oversight Commissioner insisted that lack of progress on the 61 remaining recommendations could not be blamed on any reluctance or inability within the policing agencies.

“Far more the fact that even at this advanced stage of policing change the full community and political support which would complete this crucial process is still being withheld,” he said.

“This is both illogical and short-sighted.”

His apparent frustration was compounded by the rioting over a controversially re-routed Orange Order parade in west Belfast earlier this month.

Likening the violence to the North’s darkest days, Mr Hutchinson said it was in contrast to the many significant policing advancements.

“If nothing else, the unfortunate events of early September serve to highlight and test the crucial role that accountability structures will play in the future of policing in Northern Ireland, and the perceptive nature of the Independent Commission (Patten)’s recommendations in this regard.

“The next few months will be critical, and I would not wish to give the impression that the reforms recommended by the Independent Commission can be brought about under any circumstance.

“That being said, however, I have no doubt that judging by past achievements and current efforts, the new beginning for policing will become a reality despite the efforts of those guided by their own narrow agendas.”